Why I’m Scared of Accolades – Actor Uzor Arukwe
Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe has revealed that he is uncomfortable with the attention and expectations that come with winning awards, insisting that he would rather be judged by the quality of his performances than the number of accolades he receives.
The actor made this known during an appearance on the CreativiTea podcast, where he discussed fame, recognition and the importance of remaining focused on his craft.
According to Arukwe, awards should not become the standard by which audiences measure his ability as an actor.
“But you know I’m also very scared of accolades because I don’t want you to measure me on awards or with awards or by awards. I want you to measure me by my last job,” he said.
The actor explained that his priority is to consistently deliver quality performances rather than allow awards to define his identity or career.
His position reflects his desire to keep challenging himself with different roles and demonstrate his versatility across film genres.
Arukwe has become one of Nollywood’s recognisable leading men, particularly following his performance as Odogwu Parara in Omoni Oboli’s romantic drama Love in Every Word.
However, he has repeatedly expressed concern about being restricted to similar wealthy, romantic characters, saying he wants filmmakers to give him opportunities to explore different roles.
Arukwe’s comments come months after he won the Best Lead Actor award at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for his performance in Colours of Fire.
Although he appreciates the recognition, he has previously explained that winning an award does not remove the responsibility of proving himself in subsequent projects.
In an interview with Guardian Life, he described the award as a reminder that his years of hard work and persistence were paying off, while stressing that every new production still demands his best performance.
The actor’s appearance on CreativiTea also explored the realities of fame, the pressure of public expectations and the challenge of maintaining his identity in an industry where successful characters can easily become associated with an actor.
For Arukwe, the focus remains on improving his craft and taking on projects that allow him to demonstrate his full acting range.
His message is clear: while awards and public recognition are appreciated, his greatest measure of success is the quality of the work he delivers each time he appears on screen.
